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Early life, education, and business career

After graduating with his B.S. degree in engineering from Purdue University, McKinley worked as a civil engineer for 12 years until founding his own firm, McKinley and Associates, based in Wheeling. The 40-member firm has been involved in $1 billion in construction projects over the past 30 years. Many of McKinley's projects have been government-funded, which has made for an uneasy peace between McKinley and his 'tea-party' constituents.[1]

McKinley has renovated structures of historic significance in West Virginia communities such as the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling. The venue for years was home to the legendary Jamboree, USA.[2]

State politics

McKinley represented the 3rd District in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1981 until 1994. He was a fiscal conservative, opposing virtually every state budget during his 14 years as a lawmaker.[3][4]

David McKinley received many endorsements during his 2010 campaign, including Parkersburg News,[10] National Right to Life,[11] the West Virginians for Life PAC,[11] the National Federation of Independent Business,[12] House Republicans Fund,[13] West Virginia Farm Bureau,[14] and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.[15]

McKinley narrowly defeated Oliverio, 50.4%–49.6%, a difference of just 1,440 votes or 0.8% margin.[16][17] He became only the fourth person to represent the district since 1953.

McKinley ran for re-election in 2012 in the newly redrawn 1st district. He faced Democratic candidate Sue Thorn, a former community organizer, in the general election. On November 6, 2012, McKinley defeated Thorn 62%-38%, winning every county in the district.[18]

In 2013, McKinley announced that he would not be a candidate for the open United States Senate seat being vacated by Jay Rockefeller in 2014.[19][20]

McKinley defeated the Democratic nominee, West Virginia State Auditor Glen Gainer III in the general election 64%-36%.

Tenure

McKinley has broken ranks with the Republican majority a few times in his tenure in Congress. In April 2011, McKinley was one of only four Republican members of Congress to vote against the Republican budget proposal of 2012.[21] He explained "As it relates to the Medicare, I applaud what Paul Ryan was trying to do, because we need to have an adult conversation about it. The Congressional Budget Office determined that some of the out-of-pocket costs could double for seniors and that sent up a red flag for me that we need to look at it."[22]

In October 2011, he was the only Republican to vote against all three of the trade deals passed by Congress: Panama, Colombia, and South Korea.[23] He said “Free trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA have been nothing more than broken promises that shipped our jobs overseas, and I won’t vote for any free trade agreements unless they’re fair to my constituents.”[24]

McKinley has expressed concern over the "unchecked spending" of the United States, which he says results in us being "beholden to countries like China and Japan who own a significant amount of our debt."[25]

Jobs

David McKinley is an active supporter of the Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act. Also known as the Stop the War on Coal Act, fights to protect American jobs and prevents against future legislation from being passed that would reduce mining jobs. McKinley believes, "The constant attacks on coal have to stop." [26] McKinley was one of 233 representatives who were in favor of the act that passed earlier this year in September 2012. Also, McKinley feels, “Our job creators need a consistent and predictable regulatory program that will protect jobs we have and create new one.” [27] McKinley strongly supports keeping jobs in America and protecting workers rights.

Gun Control

McKinley is a strong supporter of the notion that people should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. McKinley has been consistent in his voting patterns regarding gun control and continued this trend when voting yes to Requiring State Reciprocity for Carrying Concealed Firearms. He has received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association this past year. In 2012 the NRA is one of McKinley’s main endorsers.

Abortion Issue

McKinley is a supporter of the Pro-Life movement. He believes, "The use of federal funds to pay for ending the life of an unborn child is appalling.” [28] Since he contains this set of beliefs he voted for the passing of the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in July 2012, which did not pass. This act would prohibit an abortion in the District of Columbia. McKinley consistently votes in support of the Pro-Life movement. Therefore, the National Right to Life Committee gave McKinley an “A” rating for his constant support in 2011–Present.

Climate Change

In May 2014, McKinley offered an amendment to the Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 that bars the Department of Defense from using funds to assess climate change and its implications for national security.[29] This despite a Department of Defense report that found that climate change impacts are threat multipliers, and that the rapid rise of global temperatures and associated extreme weather events could "exacerbate conditions that enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence." The amendment passed on a near party-line vote.

Caucus memberships

Personal life

David McKinley is a seventh-generation resident of Wheeling, West Virginia and father of four children. He has six grandchildren. His wife, Mary, has been a critical care nurse for 39 years. She holds a master’s degree in nursing.[2]